Music plays an important role in most people's lives. It can be relaxing, provoke certain feelings and increase quality of life. For people with disabilities, music has several advantages and can help develop mental, physical and social skills. The therapeutic relationship between the individual and music is called music therapy.

What is Music Therapy?

Music Therapy is the evidence-based use of music to establish a therapeutic relationship between an individual and their therapist.

Through therapy, the child and the therapist are trying to achieve a set of individualized goals. These goals can vary from person to person, but are generally linked to creating positive changes in behavior and emotional well-being.

For some children with disabilities, communication can be challenging and difficult, which can lead to feeling isolated. Music therapy is an opportunity not only to develop skills, but also to experience a real connection with another human being. In many ways, it allows the child to be seen and recognized.

Unlike music training and classes, the goal is not necessarily to emerge from therapy with greater musical talent, but rather to meet established goals, which can be anything from increasing self-esteem to developing a set of social skills.

How can you help children with disabilities?

According to the American Music Therapy Association, Music Therapy can strengthen and reinforce areas of speech, cognitive skills, motor coordination, and range of motion.

Improvements in speech and language can come from singing along with songs, which can improve a child's fluency as well as volume, breathing, and pitch. Singing songs can also increase the ability to learn and memorize. In that sense, it works as cognitive training.

Additionally, music therapy can be a great way to get your child moving, thereby improving motor coordination and relieving tense muscles.

Last but not least, music therapy can bring a lot of joy and happiness to a child. Being able to sing, dance and move, essentially being able to express yourself, can be very rewarding and generous. Considering all the benefits that come with music therapy, it is surely worth considering for your child.

It should be noted that children with developmental and communication difficulties respond to musical stimulation more than any other type of stimulus. In this order of ideas, the VICON Method is a structured and intensive learning program for children that begins from the essential levels of early development to the last and most complex stages of communication. The musical medium fosters social relationships in a natural way , as a means of interaction and communication at a verbal and non-verbal level. Listening to music is an action that involves practically all the cognitive functions necessary for learning. ( Attention, Imitation, Memory and Concentration )